I don't know how a junior member of staff had access to download the whole database to discs. Haven't they heard of online systems? Mind you I am not too surprised that data has been lost as it seems like most of UK government IT systems are a shambles! :o

There was a recent incident here,involving a person whose friend worked at the government car reg dept, accused of getting personal info of female car owners including mobile numbers by just collecting their plate numbers. Apparently, he used the info to chase a few girls.